MIRANSHAH, ISLAMABAD: Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has announced a month-long ceasefire. TTP Spokesman Shahidullah Shahid has said the TTP political shura has decided to observe one month long ceasefire. He said if any group would carry out terrorist activity the TTP would hold it responsible and will take action against this group. He said TTP has announced the ceasefire on the appeal of Ulema and in best interest of Islam and country. Shahid said TTP hopes that the government will give positive response on the ceasefire announcement of TTP. Meanwhile the government and arbitration committees have welcomed the ceasefire announcement of TTP. Meanwhile Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar contacted Maulana Samiul Haq and welcoming the ceasefire announcement of TTP assured that the government will give positive response on the announcement of TTP. They also agreed to hold meeting of both negotiating committees in next two days.

TTP Spokesman Shahidullah Shahid in a written statement said TTP has started dialogue process with the government seriously and for the good purpose. He said all groups of Taliban have been conveyed the message of respecting the ceasefire agreement. He said the government responded the suggestions of the arbitration committee in positive manner to end the deadlock in the dialogue process, adding that the government has also assured the implementation of the suggestions of TTP. He said TTP hopes that the government will consider the decision of TTP seriously and will move forward regarding the dialogue process without doing any politics on the matter. He said the TTP is principled organization and every decision is made with the approval of the amir of the organization.

The Chief of the government Negotiation Committee Irfan Siddiqui while taking to a private TV channel said welcomed the unconditional ceasefire decision of the TTP. He said that the dialogue process would be started again after the ceasefire announcement of TTP. He said that the negotiation committees have played positive role in the ceasefire announcement by TTP. He said this is the big breakthrough after the 17 days long negotiations process. He said that the government committee will receive some documentary evidence regarding the ceasefire then the dialogue process would be resumed again.

Meanwhile the chief of the Arbitration Committee Maulana Samiul Haq while talking over the telephone from Saudi Arabia congratulated the nation over the ceasefire announcement of TTP. He said the whole nation should pray for the success of the dialogue process. He said if the government is willing to hold direct dialogues with the Taliban then they would have no objection, adding that they are ready to play any role in the dialogue process. He said that if we will move forward with good intention then the dialogue process would certainly succeed. He said soon they would be able to give permanent peace to the nation. He said the ceasefire announcement would help moving forward in the dialogue process.

Arbitration committee member Professor Ibrahim Khan also hailed the TTP decision of ceasefire. He said the ceasefire announcement would help resuming dialogue process. Professor Ibrahim said they will succeed in giving permanent peace to the masses of the country. He said that the deadlock in the dialogue process should be ended after the ceasefire announcement of TTP.

Meanwhile the government negotiation committee team member Rustam Shah Mohamnd said the implementation on the announcement of ceasefire should be made immediately. He said that the one month long ceasefire should be extended, adding that both committees should visit Miranshah to discuss the important issues with Taliban. He said that the TTP should also pressurize its opponent to obey the ceasefire agreement so that the peace in the area could be restored, adding that we will be able to hold result oriented dialogues and peace could be restored in true sense